Hennepin County sees rise in violent crime

Violent crime, led by homicides, is rising in Hennepin County, according to statistics released Friday by the sheriff's office.

The county saw 26 homicides in the first six months of 2015, a 37 percent increase over the first part of last year. A total of 2,626 violent crimes were reported, which is an 8 percent jump from the same time in 2014. The majority of homicides happened in Minneapolis with 23 of the 26 reported there, according to the data.

Violent crime is defined as murder, manslaughter, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

Related:In a high-crime area, Mpls. cops fight crime and perceptions

Political Coverage Powered by You

Your gift today creates a more connected Minnesota. MPR News is your trusted resource for election coverage, reporting and breaking news. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek said the numbers raise a red flag, but follow a trend other major counties and cities across the country are seeing.

"We wanted the cities to understand what is happening across the county and it's not unlike what we're seeing in other parts of the country," he said. "But it's time to double down our efforts and work even harder to curtail violent crime."

Mark Thompson is troubled by the numbers. The assistant county administrator for public safety said the data should push law enforcement agencies to work even harder to find out exactly what types of homicides are occurring and try to prevent them.

Thompson said they don't know if the deaths are "domestic assault homicides, are they gang-related homicides, are they stranger homicides?" He added the county should find out and "target that."

But Stanek said sometimes it's difficult to pinpoint the cause of the crimes.

"People always want to point to one common denominator," he said. "There isn't just any one thing."

A total of 306 rape cases were reported in the first half of 2015, a 15 percent increase over last year. Aggravated assault made up 1,299, which is also a 15 percent jump.

There was a 4 percent decrease in muggings and a 5 percent increase in robberies of businesses, according to the data.

Stanek said it's important to have enforcement, prevention and intervention to fight those crimes but police need the community's help.

"So they've got to be good witnesses, good reporters, they've got to pick up the phone and call 911," he said. "And local law enforcement has to continue to build those bridges with the residents that they serve."